The South Australian Wine Story

South Australia is a global leader in wine tourism because we understand that it’s about more than just wine. Visitors want great wine – that is a given – but they also want experiences that capture the essence of wine and put the art and passion of winemaking in context. They want to eat, to watch, to engage, to laugh and to experience new things that reflect the reality that wine is a part of life. That is why the Australian and South Australian governments have made substantial investments in the development of wine tourism, including a new international marketing campaign that encourages visitors to come and see for themselves the great SA wine tourism experiences on offer. There’s certainly a lot to talk about. South Australian wineries won the Wine Tourism Services award in each of the first two years of our membership of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network, and statistics show that when Australians are asked where to find great food and wine, South Australia leads all the other states. Wine has certainly played an essential role in making the Tasting Australia festival in Adelaide the biggest event in a country of wine and food lovers. A record 64,000 people attended the 2019 festival, which featured more than 70 Michelin-starred and award-winning chefs, winemakers and other culinary experts from around the world in more than 160 events across 12 regions. But to really experience South Australian wine you have to get out of Adelaide as well – heading in pretty well any direction. Our 18 wine regions are found in some of the most picturesque parts of the state, from the southern Flinders Ranges (where the great Australian Outback begins) and the banks of the mighty River Murray to the dramatic coastline of the south-east, where at the right time of the year you can combine wine tasting with whale watching. Many wineries operate from heritage buildings that date back to the earliest days of European settlement and some offer the opportunity to create your own wine at a fun “blending bench”. When you’re happy with the result, you’ll bottle it and take it home. It all starts just 20minutes fromAdelaide’s CBD. As you head into the hills, you’ll soon reach the Cleland Conservation Park, one of the best places in Australia to get close to our unique kangaroos and koalas, and then the charming town of Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest German settlement with its artisan bakeries, craft shops and galleries. Here Hahndorf Hills Winery matches its boutique wines to a selection of the world’s best chocolates, a concept that explores wine’s potential in exciting new ways – and quickly turns doubters into devotees. It’s then just a short drive to Monarto, where you can go on safari among lions and giraffe in one of world’s largest open-air zoos, before returning to the classic Australian landscape as you enter the Langhorne Creek region. At historic Bleasdale, the first winery built in the area, you can still see the hand-hewn red gum vats and massive 3.5 tonne Red Gum press built in 1892. Head due south fromAdelaide and in less than an hour you are in McLaren Vale, where vineyards and rolling hills meet stunning coastal scenery and incredible sunsets. For adventure, you could consider a nostalgic flight in an open cockpit 1930s biplane, snorkel out to the wreck of the Star of Greece or hire a surfboard. The coastal holiday towns of Victor Harbor, Port Elliot and Goolwa are just down the road from McLaren Vale, and if you have a little more time Kangaroo Island is a must. Here you can enjoy one of the most pristine nature experiences in Australia, take a private winery tasting and tour at Islander Estate Vineyard or simply stare at the never-ending ocean from the Dudley Wines cliff top cellar door. If it’s the famous Coonawarra that calls you, there is plenty to do in the state’s south- east as well, with six wine regions and a range of complementary tourist attractions. There are 20 sites of international or national significance in the Limestone Coast region, including Mount Gambier’s Blue Lake, which fills the crater of a dormant volcano. The World Heritage Listed Naracoorte Caves are around half a million years old and a major international tourist attraction. The picturesque towns of Robe, Penola and Padthaway feature classic buildings from South Australia’s pioneering past. Robe is a popular holiday beach resort. For a day of great experiences, you could taste premium wines at the famous Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cellar door, take a scenic flight over the Coorong , then dine on some of the best Wagyu beef in the world as part of a four-course showcase meal matched with museum release Coonawarra wine on- farm at Mayura Station. Experiences Welcoming visitors with wine and more The South Australian Wine Story 23 Image: Penfolds Magill Estate